Thrust and parry over TV election debates

By AUDREY YOUNG

Helen Clark wants to minimise contact with Bill English in television debates in the election campaign.

Mr English wants to maximise contact with the Prime Minister but minimise contact with minor party leaders.

Both may want to avoid the infamous "worm" that instantly rates audience response, although Television New Zealand has said it will be used in one of the Holmes specials.

Helen Clark and Mr English are still negotiating with Television One, TV3 and Sky over proposed debates.

The Prime Minister has refused to go head-to-head with Mr English on television since he was elected National Party leader last October.

The reasoning is that she wants to avoid giving him a free platform.

"There have been a few times when I've got close to securing it, but not quite," Mr English said.

But, he said, Helen Clark would not be able to avoid a meeting during the campaign.

Helen Clark's spokesman rejected a suggestion that she was trying to dictate the terms of the debates.

Negotiations are underway regarding a possible Sky TV debate with Mr English, moderated by Bill Ralston and to be also screened in Australia.*

She does not want to take part in a Holmes show debate with eight parliamentary leaders.

Mr English also objects to that. "My focus is debating Helen Clark. All the rest of them can sort themselves out."

TVNZ has given the leaders notice that it plans to resurrect "the worm" for that debate - a prospect that does not please Mr English.

"The worm is a stupid device because it just invites politicians to use meaningless blandishments to make sure the worm doesn't go anywhere," he said. "It trivialises the serious issues I want to be debating."

The following invitations have been issued to leaders:

TVNZ - July 7, Mike Hosking Sunday with Helen Clark and Mr English; July 15 (Monday), Holmes 90-minutes special with all eight parliamentary leaders - and the worm; July 19 (Friday): Holmes minor party leaders' debate; July 22 (Monday), Holmes 60 minutes, Helen Clark and Mr English.

TV3 - July 4 (Thursday), the leaders of the six highest-polling parties; July 25 (Thursday), Helen Clark and Mr English.

Sky TV proposes four hour-long programmes, the first with the minor party leaders, the second with Mr English, the third with Helen Clark and a fourth with both Helen Clark and Mr English.

*CORRECTION: In the original version of this story, we incorrectly stated that Helen Clark had not agreed to a Sky TV debate with Bill English.

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